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One of the most fundamental parts of any road trip is the playlist. Aside from the itinerary and snacks, it is one of the first things that I plan out. Join us in making the perfect New Zealand Playlist as it would not be complete without these great kiwi tunes. Kiwi Roadtrip So True – The Black Seeds With its kiwi infused reggae beats and a catchy chorus, it’s not hard to sing along to this summer classic, even if the sun isn’t shining. The Otherside – Breaks co-op With local legend, Zane Lowe making up part of this trio, the Otherside is a laid-back beach vibe, perfect for cruising around the…

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Rotorua in the central North Island of New Zealand is infamous for its geothermal activity, with the lingering notes of sulphur in the air and its Maori heritage. What maybe isn’t as well known, is the Whakarewarewa or Redwoods Forest alongside the south of Lake Rotorua. An interesting experiment… During the early 20th century, foresters in the area were intrigued as to what northern hemisphere trees would grow in this part of the world, and planted over 170 species as part of an experiment. New Zealand trees tend to grow quite slowly and with an increase in settlers, wood was needed for building shelters and homes. With demand high, a…

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In a small hole in the ground, once lived a hobbit; and in the small Waikato town of Matamata lives a little magical piece of Middle Earth. Finding Middle Earth When the filming of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy confirmed, the challenge for film markers was finding the perfect set locations for these iconic novels. For many fans of the novels, the Shire was one of the most important locations get right. The Alexander farm on Buckland road was seen by the location scouts from above, with its rolling green hills and large Oak tree at the perfect setting for the Shire of Middle Earth. They could not have…

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On Koekohe beach, between Dunedin and Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand, is a natural phenomenon steeped in Maori folklore. The Moeraki Boulders are one of the most photographed landscapes in New Zealand. Numerous wonderfully circular orbs of stone litter the Otago beachside. Local legend says the boulders are the remains of eel baskets, calabashes, and kumara washed ashore from the wreck at nearby Shag Point from a large canoe of Arai-te-Uru. The patterning on the boulders, according to legend, are the remains of the canoe’s fishing nets. Over 50 boulders have been unearthed from the eroding shoreline, with stones still half hidden in the banks of the…

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To all those unselfish heroes who have given everything for us – you will never be forgotten Today (25th April) is observed as ANZAC day in Australia and New Zealand, and is a day to commemorate and remember those serving in Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Most notably, this day was started to honour who lost their lives at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I. The day has since expanded to celebrate all those who have served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Those heroes that shed their blood And lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly…

I finished my A-Levels in 2004 and the plan was to go to University. I did not want to go to a London based University as I wanted to have the experience of independence and freedom. At 18 years old, I believed that I was fearless and brave and applied to University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Pretty much the furthest University from London. I had heard of the University before from some friends from New Zealand and went online to find the course and applied. The application process itself was pretty straightforward. I completed an application form and made the submission (much easier than UCAS!). I was given…

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A bungee/bungy jump is something that I always wanted to do and living in New Zealand, home of the world’s first permanent commercial bungee site near Queenstown, I knew that this is where I would need to take the leap of faith! Bungee jumping has it origins on the small pacific island of Vanuatu, where young men would dive off tall platforms with vines attached to their ankles, as a rite of passage into adulthood. As a celebration of completing my degree, I decided to do the jump at Kawarau River in Queenstown. This site has been open since 1988 (almost as old as me!) and at only 43m high, it…

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From 2005 to 2007 I moved from my home in London to Dunedin, New Zealand to study at the prestigious University of Otago. I was lucky enough to be accepted based on my A-Levels and applied for my student visa and I was on my way! (Obvs there was lots more planning but that is part of a different post!) Dunedin is a student town towards the south of New Zealand’s South Island, with a student population of about 20% (of its 120000). Dunedin means ‘Edinburgh of the South’ as it originates from the Gaelic for Edinburgh and has a proud Scottish History, with a statue of Robert Burns in…